Bodog pays on time and OffshoreInsiders.com wins more than anyone else. For those betting on their own, here is intel on the preseason odds.
Of the three NFL preseason games on Thursday night, the Carolina Panthers-Baltimore Ravens game has special significance for bettors: there will be live betting on Bodog's NFL odds for this one because the game is on ESPN. Baltimore has opened as a 4-point favorite in the exhibition opener for both.
Tonight will be the debut of the new Baltimore passing game, which means receivers Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth take the field as Ravens for the first time. Baltimore ranked 18th in passing last year and that certainly should improve with those two. The Ravens starters are expected to only play the first quarter. Baltimore will also be auditioning safety Tom Zbikowski and wide receivers Stallworth and Mark Clayton at punt returner. Ravens star defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will play despite suffering a back injury in practice – but only a series. Cornerback Fabian Washington is not expected to go.
Several key Panthers won't play tonight. Cornerback Chris Gamble (sore knee), wide receiver Steve Smith (broken arm) and running back Jonathan Stewart (heel) are among 11 players who won't suit up. Stewart rushed for more than 1,100 yards last season. Smith is unlikely to play at all this preseason. Starting QB Matt Moore and the rest of the starters will play about a quarter, coach John Fox said. Rookie Jimmy Clausen will make his NFL debut and he is competing to be the No. 2 behind Moore.
Interestingly, the Panthers are one of two teams the Ravens have never beaten in the regular season (New England the other). Carolina and Baltimore play Nov. 21 in Charlotte. Baltimore is 3-1 against Carolina in preseason play.
Now Bodog looks at the Saints vs. Patriots:
The Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints take the field for their first competitive game since upsetting the Colts in Miami last February tonight at New England in what certainly could be a Super Bowl XLV preview – not that you will be seeing the starters much tonight. That Pats are 1.5-point favorites on Bodog's NFL odds with a total at 35.
Probably the biggest storyline tonight is whether New England wide receiver Wes Welker will play just seven months after blowing out his knee (and 191 days since surgery) in the 2009 regular-season finale. Original estimates had Welker missing at least the first six games of this season but he has made a remarkable recovery and is practicing fully.
"I don't know,'' coach Bill Belichick said of Welker playing. "I'm not saying he will. I'm not saying he won't. We'll evaluate it and see.''
Typical Belichick.
In addition, it remains to be seen how much Pats star QB Tom Brady plays. Obviously it doesn't make much sense for the team to put his health in danger – plus Brady is playing without a contract extension. Expect no more than a series. Probably the biggest question mark on the Pats is at left guard with Logan Mankins still holding out and Nick Kaczur hurt. This will also be the first time that Belichick and his coaching staff participate in a game without any coordinators calling plays (the Pats don't have any).
As for the Saints, QB Drew Brees is expected to only play the first quarter. New Orleans still has to decide who its backup quarterback is, so Patrick Ramsey and former Missouri star Chase Daniel will get the majority of snaps. First-round draft pick Patrick Robinson, a cornerback, is expected to play.
These two teams have been scrimmaging each other for a few days so there might not be a lot of scoring since they should know each other well; of course I guess you could say the opposite also would be true. New Orleans beat New England 38-17 last season to improve to 11-0 but that has little bearing on this one.
Well, folks, our long wait is finally over: The NFL returns on Sunday night with the first preseason game of the year, with Dallas taking on Cincinnati in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. The Bengals (who presumably should have the larger contingent of fans) have opened as 3-point favorites on Bodog's NFL odds and there will be live betting available on the site.
Top expert picks on today's card…
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